Will the people of Geneva soon become free readers, too?
Blick wants to be with readers before Metropol and 20 Minuten - Headline Panel on Commuter Newspapers
Blick wants to be with readers before Metropol and 20 Minuten - Headline panel on commuter newspapersThe new Zurich commuter newspapers expect to break even in one to two years, while Blick is considering early delivery in Zurich as a defensive measure. These are the most important findings from a panel discussion in Olten.The panel, organized by the communications club Headline, featured five publishing directors: Rolf Bollmann, 20 Minuten, Urs Zeier, Metropol, Bruno Blaser, Blick, Ueli Eckstein, Aargauer Zeitung, and Joachim Tillessen of Neue Mittelland Zeitung.
The most important news: Bollmann announced that, according to the business plan, 20 Minuten should break even by the end of 2001 and repay its investments in four years. Zeier is more cautious; he expects Metropol to break even by the end of 2002.
Blick is thinking of counter-strategies: early delivery in the greater Zurich area is being considered. This would bring Blick to readers before they have a commuter paper in their hands. Blaser also said that there had not yet been any decline in retail sales. He recalled the situation in Hungary, where Ringier is present with a tabloid and Metro with a commuter newspaper. "We haven't had a drop in newsstand sales there in the last 18 months."
Eckstein and Tillessen were also relaxed. The two commuter papers are well made, but there are currently no effects in Aargau or Espace Mittelland, they said.
However, Zeier revealed that things are not always so relaxed behind the scenes: TA-Media had threatened to withdraw the contract from three of its suppliers if they also supplied Metropol. In addition, he waved the fence post: Metro Amsterdam had changed its concept after four months and had switched to
a national strategy. In Switzerland, however, there is no such intention. In another context, however, it became known that Metropol could be considering the Geneva-Lausanne area for another project... Markus Knöpfli
The most important news: Bollmann announced that, according to the business plan, 20 Minuten should break even by the end of 2001 and repay its investments in four years. Zeier is more cautious; he expects Metropol to break even by the end of 2002.
Blick is thinking of counter-strategies: early delivery in the greater Zurich area is being considered. This would bring Blick to readers before they have a commuter paper in their hands. Blaser also said that there had not yet been any decline in retail sales. He recalled the situation in Hungary, where Ringier is present with a tabloid and Metro with a commuter newspaper. "We haven't had a drop in newsstand sales there in the last 18 months."
Eckstein and Tillessen were also relaxed. The two commuter papers are well made, but there are currently no effects in Aargau or Espace Mittelland, they said.
However, Zeier revealed that things are not always so relaxed behind the scenes: TA-Media had threatened to withdraw the contract from three of its suppliers if they also supplied Metropol. In addition, he waved the fence post: Metro Amsterdam had changed its concept after four months and had switched to
a national strategy. In Switzerland, however, there is no such intention. In another context, however, it became known that Metropol could be considering the Geneva-Lausanne area for another project... Markus Knöpfli
